See those green bicycles? Lansing's bike share program is back, but it's in testing phase

The green bikes are back at bike share stations in downtown Lansing but they’re not available to the public yet and won’t be out of the pilot phase this biking season, according to consultant Lynne Martinez.

“Two weeks from now the bikes will be available but right now we are just testing with members,” Martinez said.

There are about 50 people involved in a pilot program for the Capital Community Bike Share, she said.

The program rolled out a year ago, but the bikes disappeared for a while due to technical problems. The bikes are being designed by the Ann Arbor-based startup A2B Bikeshare.

“They redesigned the racks and the technology box and the locks,” Martinez said.

A representative from the company was not immediately available for comment on this story.

The bikes are on the streets, and feature solar panels that run credit card machines and let users take the bikes. At least, that’s the goal. Martinez said in two weeks non-members will be allowed to check bikes out.

“The pilot will probably go through the rest of this bike season,” Martinez said.

During the pilot phase, the bike share program will track how people use the bikes and how they’re fitting into the area transportation network.

The only other bike share program in the state is in Ann Arbor, and it’s pushing back its debut date as well. Originally slated to roll out in June, ArborBike is now looking at September. ArborBike is using a different bike share equipment vendor, B-Cycle.

Bike shares are being considered in Traverse City, Detroit and Mt. Pleasant as well.